Roberts Is Outraged at a Tax; Thomas Isn’t

If you’re outraged at unfair taxes, Chief Justice John Roberts feels your pain. But the chief couldn’t get two of his fellow conservatives to send what he described as a once-in-a-generation message on the subject.

The background: Years ago, the city offered property owners the choice of paying an assessment for a sewer project in a lump sum or in installments with interest over 10, 20 or 30 years. Later, amid complaints about the burden, the city decided to change the system and forgave the remaining balance for those paying on the installment plan.